I’ve been experimenting with taking Karen Burniston’s Landscape Rectangle Accordion and cutting the pivot panel into a smaller string of shapes. For this card I used dies from her crosshatch circle and oval sets.

I made a template from heavy cardstock (110 lb) by first cutting a panel and then tracing around the dies to create a pattern. For the pattern, I used the second smallest oval for the center and the two smallest circles. (Make sure you don’t cut away the pivot mechanism at the top and bottom of the panel. The center point of the rectangle is the scored fold-line.) I fussy cut the pattern and then used it to trace onto my die-cut panels of double-sided medium-weight, patterned cardstock.

Now for the fun part – deciding what decorations to add. I pulled all my Easter and Spring dies out and tired various layouts to see what would fit.

after deciding to add a frame to dangle a charm from, I used the smallest crosshatch oval to die-cut the opening. Because the frame top was so thin, I used a needle and thread to create a string to dangle an egg charm. (The charm is made from two charms glued together.) The knotted thread ends were finished with dots of glue. (In hindsight, I would probably make the opening with a smaller circle so that the frame would be wider near the pivot points. See below, photos of another card that I cut a circle aperture.)

For the sentiment (in the Easter Charms Set), I traced around the outside of the die and fussy out to create a shadow for the words. I cut two of the sentiment and glued them together before attaching them to the shadow. To add some pizazz to words, I coated it with a glitter gloss and popped it up on foam squares over the flowers.

The flowers come from two different die sets, but the flowers are all the same. (This makes for quicker die-cutting when you two of the same die.) I find putting two flowers of similar colors together you get a fuller, more pleasing flower. I shaped my flowers using my fingers to curl the petal ends down while pushing the flower center down as well.

I mostly followed the packaging examples for the eggs, bunnies and chicks, but you can view the assembly video for the Easter Charms. I coated the chocolate bunny with a glossy clear gel after I had used the die to ink in the bunny’s eye with a white gel pen. I also added a tiny red grosgrain ribbon at his neck. For the Easter Bunny, I used a grey suede paper so he was fuzzy to the touch. (Here is the assembly video for the Spring Animals.)

After all the panels were decorated, I attached the frames and panels using there tabs as directed in their assembly video.

As you plan where your decorations will go, think about how thick they will be, if they will be attached using foam squares and if they will become catchpoints for the pivot mechanism or folds where the panels are joined. (I popped up a purple flower at an inside fold that some of the petals ended up creased and folded back.) I chose to keep the middle section as flat as I could, only popping up items on the outside panels/last panel.

The front panel introduces the Easter bunny theme while the back panel has a matted label popped up on foam squares for a personal message.

The card folds to fit into an A6 (4×6 inches) or larger envelope. It may require extra postage because of its thickness to post in the USA.

Below are photos of a similar string accordion card using the same papers, but with a religious theme and a circle aperture rather than an oval aperture in the center panel.

Thank you for reading this blog post. I hope this inspires you and makes you smile. Please like and leave comments 😊

For more Accordion Fold cards click here.

Materials Used:

Dies

• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Rectangles and Labels Crosshatch – 1233
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Label Charm Pop-Up – 1209
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Landscape Rectangle Accordion – 1198
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Easter Charms – 1078
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Spring Animals – 1074
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Circles – Crosshatch – 1057
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Ovals – Crosshatch – 1055
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Flowers and Bee – 1026
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Flower Pot Pop-Up – 1010

Papers

• Dare2BArtzy – 12×12 Double-Sided Paper – Honey Bloomz by Andie Hanna – Buds & Bloomz-PP1049
• Hot Off The Press – 8.5×11 Faux Suede Paper – Smoke Suede – HOTP-10434
• Colored Cardstock and Paper Scraps
• A6 Envelope – Ivory

Pens/Gels

• Gelly Roll – Gel Pen – White
• Pigma – Mircon 01 – Black
• Pigma – Mircon 05 – Brown
• INC – Scented Gel Pen .08 – Grape
• Orange and Pink Fine-Tipped Makers
• Nuvo – Aqua Shimmer Brush Pen – Glitter Gloss
• Ranger – Glossy Accents

Miscellaneous

• Neutral PH Adhesive by LINECO
• Fine-Tip Glue Bottle
• Pokey Tool
• Die Cutting Machine
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler